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Men’s Gymnastics Program At Cal Avoids Elimination

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BERKELEY (CBS / AP) — A fundraising effort has helped save Cal’s men’s gymnastics program, which was slated to be eliminated in a cost-cutting move.

School officials said Monday that supporters had raised more than $2.5 million for the program.

KCBS’ Chris Filippi Reports:

Men's Gymnastics Program At Cal Avoids Elimination

That’s short of the $4 million needed but officials say it’s enough to support the team for seven to 10 years when combined with cost-cutting steps, including restricting scholarships for new recruits.

Previous fundraising efforts helped preserve Cal’s baseball, women’s lacrosse and women’s gymnastics teams, which were to be eliminated, and men’s rugby, which was to be reclassified as a “varsity club sport.”

The plan to cut the sports was part of a broader campaign to reduce UC Berkeley’s annual support for intercollegiate athletics.

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